SU Softball Splits on Day One at USF

Friday, March 9

Clearwater, Fla.

4:15 p.m.

Syracuse University

Miami (Ohio)

Senior Stephanie Watts had the game-winning RBI against Miami (OH)

3/9/2012 9:43:06 PM | Softball

Miami (OH) Box | USC Upstate Box

CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 23 Syracuse (10-7) split in its first day of competition at the USF Under Armour Invite on Friday, March 9. In its first game, the Orange recorded a 1-0 victory against Miami (OH). Against USC Upstate, the team suffered a 3-1 loss.

Game One:
Senior Jenna Caira kept the RedHawks at bay en route to a 1-0 victory. The Toronto native held Miami (OH) scoreless for her first shutout of the season. Over seven innings, Caira would only surrender three hits and struck out six.

Syracuse jumped out an early 1-0 lead against Miami (OH) in the top of the second inning. Freshman Carey-Leigh Thomas reached on a single and then stole second base. Senior Stephanie Watts smacked a double to bring in Thomas, giving SU an early advantage.

Miami staged a late rally, but the Orange held them off for the win. In the seventh inning, Allie Larrabee singled and was replaced by Tiyona Marshall at first. Marshall left early and was declared out. Daniela Torres singled and then Jordan McElroy reached on an error. Casey Drees grounded out to Morgan Nandin to end the threat and the game.

Game Two:
For the second consecutive game, the Orange took an early advantage. Senior Lisaira Daniels singled and fellow classmate Lacey Kohl was hit by a pitch to start the game. Sophomore Jasmine Watkins then roped a ground-rule double to the left center gap to score Daniels.

Freshman Lindsay Taylor was in cruise control through the first four innings. Taylor did not allow a hit. Only three Spartans got on base during that span.

In the fifth inning, USC Upstate would tie up the game. After Lindsay Lewis reached on an error, she eventually advanced to third base with one out. Maddison Kieffer hit a sacrifice fly to bring Lewis in and tie the score at 1-1. Junior Stacy Kuwik came in relief and retired one batter to end the inning.

An inning later, the Spartans pulled ahead for good. With two outs and runners on first and second, SU seemed poised to escape the scare. An error by Watts would keep the Spartans alive. A hit batter and Spartan single would bring in two runners, to give them a 3-1 lead.

Syracuse would not quit and attempted a rally. The first three SU batters all reached safely to load the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh inning. The Orange looked like they would score a runner on a Daniels liner, but the second baseman made a diving stop. Kohl struck out and Watson flied out to shortstop to end the game.

The team is back in action tomorrow at the USF Under Armour Invite. Syracuse will play its third game of the tournament at 4:15 p.m. against Boston University.